System for carrying out mimic bombing and torpedo attacks



A. W. PARSONS SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT MIMIC BOMBING AND TORPEDO ATTACKSMay 4 1926. 1,583,237

Fi y 6 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NV EN TOR.

ll 'I'TORNEYS'.

Patented May 4, 1926.

UNETEE STATES ARTHUR XV. PAESQNS, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

SYSTEM FGR CARRYING- OUT 'MIl /[IC BOD/IBING AND TORPEDO ATTACKS.

Application filed July 6, 1925.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, An'rncn \V. Parsons, a citizen or the United States,and a resident of Miami, county of Dado, State of Florida, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Carrying Out MimicBombing and Torpedo Attacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a system for carrying out mimic bombing andtorpedoing attacks u on ima 'inar movim battleshi s.

C! t! L A general object of the invention is to provide means forpromoting accuracy in the directing of bombs as, from an aeroplane, andtorpedoes as from an aeroplane or war vessel, at moving targets.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for enabling one todetermine the result, in so far as accuracy is concerned, that might beexpected in actual warfare from bombing attacks, launched fromaeroplanes, and from torpedo attacks launched as from aeroplanes or warvessels, against a hostile fleet.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the systemmay be rendered particularly applicable to water covered areas out ofsight oi land thus eliminating any land marks by which, when taken inconnection ith the moving target, it would be possible to approximatethe rate of speed at which the target is traveling, thereby placing theaviator or attacking war vessel at the same disadvantage, in so far asbeing unable to approximate the speed of the attacker vessel isconcerned, as would exist in open sea conflict in actual warfare.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparenttromthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of awatercovered area or field over which certain instrumentalities used in thepracticing of my invention are istributed.

Figure 2 is a fragmental elevation of a post or other support upon whichis mounted electrically ignited flares.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Fig ure 2 and shows a. post uponwhich is mounted but one electrically ignited flare.

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a dummybomb having a. time recording mechanism incorporated therein.

Serial No. 41,602.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a float or buoy adapted to carry oneor more electrically ignited flares.

Fig. 6 is avicw in elevation of a torpedo used in the practice of myinvention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have showncertain embodiments of my invention more or less diagrammatically andcertain other embodiments more or less in detail which are essential tothe practicing of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates a water coveredfield or area of any desired dimensions which is preferably located outof sight of land, the shore line of which is indicated at 6. For thesake of convenience, however, I have shown the field so proportioned asto represent a width of one nautical mile and a length of two nauticalmiles. Over the field are stationed certain signals spaced preferably atunequidistant points 7 and hereinafter more particularly described, thesignals being adapted to be controlled from a station 8 which may belocated on shore, on the water outside of the field, or even on thefield in the midst of the signals. The points however are hereinrepresented as being located approximately one thousand feet apart,there being six points to each nautical mile both longitudinally andtrans *ersely ot the field.

The signals, which are adapted to be placed at the points 7, may be ofthe type shown in Figure 2, or of the type shown in Figure 3, or of thetype SllOV-Jll in Figure 5, these signals being indicated, respoctivelv, by the numerals 9, 10 and 11.

The signal 9 comprises a post or stick 12 adapted to be driven into thebed of the water covered area, and carries at its upper end a pair oi?brackets 13 carrying flares 1 and 15, for a purpose hereinafter morefully appreciated. The composition of material entering into the ilare1smay be such that when the same is ignited a red flare is produced andthe composition entering into the flare 15 may be such that when thesame is ignited a more or less dense black smoke is emitted. Theseflares are each connected electrically with a source of electricalenergy 16 through electric circuits indicated, respectively, by thenumerals 17 and 18. The circuits 1? and 18 are adapted to be closed bypush buttons 19 and 20 associated with switchboards 21 and 22 located atthe central station 8. These switchboards may be associated,respectively, with timing devices 23 and 2 also located at the centralstation 8, the timing devices being or" such design as to record theexact time at which the flares 14 and 15 are ignited. If desired,however, the recording device 2% may be dispensed with, inasmuch as itmay not be of any great importance to record the time of firing of theflare 15 which is adapted to produce a black smoke.

The type of signalshown inFigure 3 is substantially identical with thatshown in Figure 2 except that the flare adapted toproduce a black smokeis'omitted, leaving only the flare 1a which is controlled from thecentral control station 8 through the circuit 17 and push button 19as'previously described.

Under certain conditions, as for example when the water covering thefieldis relatively deep, it may be found impracticable to employpostsfor carrying the signals, in which instances a buoy 25 may be placed ateach of the points 7. Each buoy is adapted to be anchored by means of aweight 26 su pended from the buoy by means ofa chain 27, and may beprovided with a single flare, of the type shown in Figure 3, or with apair of flares 1a and 15, as in the case of the type of signal shown inFigure 2. When the buoy is employed as a means for supporting the flares14 and 15 the same circuits 17 and 18 may be employed for igniting theflares from a central control station 8, as previously described. Theconductors constituting these circuits, in the case of the buoy, may bepassed through a suitable waterproof housing 28, as shown.

In Figure 4-, I have disclosed,'more or less diagrammatically, a dummybomb adapted to be directed towards the imaginary target from anaeroplane. The bomb comprises a body portion 29 within which is arrangeda source of electrical energy, such as a battery 80. Upon the bodyportion 29 there is removably attached a cap or head 31 carrying asuitable type of electrically operated clock or time recording mechanism82 from which is lead conductors '33 suitably connected to contacts 3st,the contacts 34 in turn being adapted to engage contacts 35 carried bythe body portion 29 and connected by means of conductors 36 to thebattery 30. The head or cap 31 is connected to one end of a chain 37which is carried within a pocket 38 formed in the body portion 29, theopposite end of the chain being secured to a weight or ball 38 as shown.hen the bomb is directed from the aeroplane towards the imaginary targetmoving over the water covered area or field 5, it is necessary for thecap 31 to become separated from the body portion 29 so that the capwill'be permitted to float after landing of the bomb, and in Iorder toinsure such separation the head31 is connected to the body portion bymeans of more or-less fragile pins 89. These pins are intended to shear,or otherwise break down, when the bomb strikes the water, and theshearing or breaking down is insured by reason of the fact that thebomb, moving at a higli'rate of speed downward as a result of its havingbeen dropped from a great height, is traveling, when it strikes thewater, laterally at a speed corresponding to the speed at which theaeroplane was traveling when the bomb was released. The instant the bodyportion 29 strikes the water its lateral speed is retarded whereas thecap 31 tends to continue to move, thus setting up within the pins 39 ashearing stress which insures their being snapped, or otherwisereleased, to permit the cap 31 to separate from the body 29 whereuponthe cap, which is lighter than water, floats upon the surface and thebody submerges to the bed of the water covered area. By reason of thechain connection afforded between the cap 31 and the w ightor ball 38,the weight or ball upon striking the bed of the field serves to anchorthe cap and thus enables one to determine the exact location, withrespect to a given point 7, at which the bomb struck. The instant atwhich the bomb strikes the water is recorded by the time recordinmechanism 32 inasmuch as the electrical connection afforded between thetime recording mechanism 32 and the battery 80 through the conductors 83and 36 is severed due to disengagement of the contacts 3% with thecontacts 35 upon separation of the cap or head 31 from the body portion29.

Tnpractice, one or more aeroplanes may be provided with. any desirednuml er of bombs, of the type shown in Figure i, preparatory to carryingout a mimic bombing expedition. Before the aeroplanes are started ontheir flight the timing mechanism 32 of the several bombs is set inaccordance with the time indicated by the clock mechanism, not shown,incorporated into the timing devices 23 and 2a. The aeroplanes may bestarted on their flight simultaneously, or otherwise, and after aprescribed period of time the imaginary target, or supposed battleship,is started on a course which is predetermined by the operator oroperators at the central control station but unknown to the aviator.Such a course, for example, may be laid out to correspond to the curve Apassing through certain points 7. In order to effect or simulate themovement of the battleship over its court e, the flares i l are ignitedprogressively at the points through which the curve A passes. The timeelapsing between successive iguitions determines the speed of theimaginary target. The imaginary target may, therefore, be made to travelas fast or as slowly as desired throughout its entire course oranyport-1011 there-or, the speed be ing dependent upon the speed at whichthe push buttons 19 are progressively operated. In order to enable theoperator or operators at the signal station to definitely follow aprescribed course, the posts or buoys may be numbered and the buttonscontrolling the respective circuits of the tiares may be corresaondinglynumbered. For example, the points, through which the curve A passes, maybe numbered 3, 10, 15, 21, 29, 31, e1, 43, 51, 56 and G l, respectively.In order, therefore, to direct the imaginary target along the curve A,only the buttons 19 at the central control station identified by thosenumbers need be considered and these buttons are operi ted in the orderabove named. As previously described the exact time of igniting a flare1e at a given point 7 is recorded by the recording mechanism 23. Thisenables one to definitely ascertain, after the course has been run, theexact position at any given instant of the imaginary target in itscourse. The foremost flare at the time of ignition represents theposition of the ships bow, and the adjacent ignited flare at the 3 sametime indicates the approximate position of the stern of the imaginarybattleship, in the event the points 7 are spaced from each other bothlongitudinally and transversely of the field a distance of one thousandfeet. The position of the imaginary target, therefore, at the time theforelllOSb flare is ignited is definitely known to the aviators-and itis their object to so direct the bombs to score adirect hit. These bombsmay be dropped simultaneously with the tiring of the foremost flare orany time thereafter prior to the next succeeding flare, but in thelatter case the exact location of the imaginary target may be onlyapproximated by the aviator. Whether or not a direct hit has been scoredmay be readily determined after the course has been run by noting thetime that each bomb struck the water, the time of striking beingrecorded by the time recording mechanism 32, and thereafter c ieckingthis time with the position of the battleship at that instant. Forexample, it a cap 31 is found located in the position B and its recordedmechanism 32 indicates that the bomb struck the water at ten minutespast ten and the time recording mechanism shows that the bow of thebattleship had just reached point 29, the distance by which the bombmissed the battleship may be readily calculated. II", on the other hand,a cap is found located at point C or in very near pr nimity thereto, sayten feet from point C, and the time recording mechanism 32 indicatesthat the bomb struck the water at twelve minutes past ten, it thenbecomes positively known that a direct hit has been scored it therecording mechanism 23 shows that the bow of the battleship had passedthe point 29 at such a time and at such a speed that midship passeddirectly over point C at the time corresponding to the time at which thebomb was recorded by the time recording mechanism 32 as having struckthe water.

In the event it is desired to simulate a smoke screen, the smoke flaresat a given set of points 7 may be ignited, prior to or subse 1uent tothe ignition of the corresponding target flares 1a, through theinstrumentality of push buttons adapted to be operated from the centralcontrol station as previously described. These push buttons may benumbered as in the case of push buttons 19 to enable the operator toignite smoke flares throughout a course identical with the course beingpursued by the imaginary battleship or any course in the vicinity of thecourse over which the imaginary battleship is traveling.

For the sake of economy, the water covered area or field 5 may beprovided with a plurality of definitely known courses rather than with atarget located at each of the points 7 without departing from the spiritof the invention. In such a case certain sections of one course may beutilized as a section of any other course, as for example, the portionof the course A lying intermediate points and or may be lended withcourse D. This blending may be carried out in any number of combinationsto obtain a similar number of different courses with the use of but acomparatively small number of signals as will be readily appreciated.

The invention is not limited in use to the directing of bombs from anaeroplane but may be similarly carried out in connection with thedirecting of torpedoes from aeroplanes with the view to determining withWhat accuracy they may be directed at a moving target. For example, theaeroplanes instead of carrying bombs or" the type shown herein, may besupplied with torpedoes, of the type indicated by the numeral 4.0, whichare adapted to be dropped in the Water at a suitable distance from thecourse of the imaginary battleship with the view to scoring as manydirecthits as possible throughout the course being pursued by theimaginary enemy vessel. In order to check for accuracy in the firing oftorpedoes, one or more captive balloons 41 may be stationed over thewater covered area or field 5, or for the balloons observationaeroplanes may be employed. here captive balloons or aeroplanes areemployed for observation purposes, the exact time at which a torpedocrosses the path of the imaginary battleship is recorded, as by means ofstop watches, one of which is indicated at a2; and the points 7, in thecourse of the battleship, between which the torpedo passes is alsonoted. By checking the time at which the torpedo passes over the courseof the imaginary battleship and by noting the points in the course ofthe imaginary target between which the torp do passes. it may be readilydetermined, the course has been run, whether a direct hit has beenscored, since, by the recording mechanism 23 the central controlstation, the exact location of the imaginary battleship may bedetermined for any given instant during the running oi the test. Thissystem of checking not only enables one to determine h w many, any,direct hits have been scored but it also-enables one to determine 1target was missed by the torpedo or torped es not scoring direct hits.

Further use of invention may be made to determine the accuracy oftorpedo firing from a war vessel in which case the attackwar \cssel y bemaneuvered outside or the course being pursued by the imaginarybattleship. .Vith the war vessel so maneuvering, the torpeooes aredirected at the heap :3? target with the "-flQW to scoring as manyulrcct hits as possible. The accuracy with which the torpedoes are nreadily determined, as in ti o torpedoes fired from an aeroplane andi-ereinbetore explained, it being necessary to observe, as from anobservation airolane or a dirigible balloon following the course of theimaginary war vessel, the time at which the torpedo crosses the path oithe ima inary battleship and record the points between which the torpedopassed and its distance from the nearest numbered point. With this datain hand and with the. time recorded, by the recording device 23, atwhich the signals throughout the course pursued by the battleship weretired, it be comes an easy matter to determine whet-her a direct hit wasscored or by what margin the target was missed.

It Will be readi app eciated that the smoke producing "lares 15 may beemployee in the same n'iariier during torpedo firing and for the samepurpose previously described in. connection with bomb dropping.

Regardless of whether a plurality oil delinitc courses are employed orthe water covered area or field is provided with a signal device at eachof the points indicated by the numeral '5', the aviator or aviators maybe enabled to practice directing bombs or torpcdoes at an imaginarytarget which simulates av warship operating under such conditions andmaneuvering in such a manner as might be expected in actual warfare.Furthermore, the invention oliers the same advantages in the practicingof torpedo firing from a moving war vessel. By the use of this inventionthe degree of accuracy with which the bombs or torpedoes were direct-edat the moving target may be readily deter mined, after the course hasbeen run, thus enabling students of warfare to accurately determine thedegree oat eiii'ciency that a bombing or torpedoing assault may beveX-.21 held in the form 01 invention I claim crable target devi means foractuating said devices in order to present a. succession of targets, andmeans tor recording t re time at which each tar 'et is presented.

.3. In a system of the character described, :1 held in the form of watercovered area, a missile adapted to be directed from a moving objecttowards a point on said field, means for recording the time at whichsaid missile reaches said point, a plurality of op era le target deviceslocated on said field, means for actuating said devices in order over aprescribed course to present a succe sion of targets, and means iorrecording the time at which each of said targets is presented.

3. In a system of the character described, a water covered area, missileadapted to be directed from a moving objet towards a point on saidfield, means for recording the time at which said missile reaches saidpoint, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field,common control means for selectively actuat'ug said devices to project asuccession 0:" targets alonga predetermined course, and means forrecording the time at which each target is projected.

a field in the term or" a water covered area,

a plurality of operable target devices, means for actuating said targetdevices in order to present a succession of targets, means for recordingthe time at which each target is presented, a missile adapted to bedirected toward a point on said field, and means for recording the timeat which said missile reaches said point.

5. in asystem of the character described, 2. held in the form of a watercovered area, a plurality of operable target devices, means foractuating said target devices in or ler to present a succession oftargets simulating an imaginary moving object, means for recording thetime at which each target is presented, a missile adapted to be directedfrom a moving object toward a point on said field, and means forrecording the time at which said missile reaches said point whereby,with the aid of the recorded time at which a given target was presented,the distance by which said missile missed said imaginary object can bedetermined.

6. In a system of the character described,

7.. In a system of the character described,

a field in the form of a water covered area, a missile adapted to bedirected from above said field toward pointon said field, means forrecording the time at which said missile reaches said point on saidfield, a plurality of operable ta t devices on said field, means foraetnat said devices in order to present asucce :ion of targets, andmeans for recording the time at which each target is presented.

7. In a system of the character described, a field in the form of awater covered area, a plurality of operable target devices located onsaid field, means for actuating said devices in order to present asuccession of targets, simulating an imagii iry moving object a missileadapted to be directed (0111 a point over said field toward said imainary object, means for recording the time at which each target ispresented, and means for recording the time at which said missilereaches a given point in the course of travel of said imaginary object.

8. In a system ot the character described, a field in the form of a.water covered area, a plurality of floats locat d on said field,operable target devices carried by said floats, means for actuating saiddevices in order to present a succession or targets simulating animaginary moving object, means for recording the time at which eachtarget is presented, a missile adapted to be directed from a point oversaid field towards said imaginary object, a floating body detachablyconnected to said missile and adapted to be released from said missilewhen the missile strikes the water, and time recording mechanism arriedby said floating; body for recording the time at which said missilestrikes the water.

9. In a system of the character described, a field in the form of awater coveredarea, a plurality of floats located on said field, operabletarget devices carried by said floats, means for actuating said devicesin order to present a succession ot targets simulating an imaginarymoving object, means for recording; the time at which each target ispresented, a missile adapted to be directed from a point over said fieldtowards said imaginary object, a floating body detachably connected tosaid missile and adapted to be released irom said missile when themissile strikes the water, time recording mechanism carried by saidfloating; body for recording the time at which said missile strikes the,water, and means for anchoring said floating body to said missile.

10. In a system or" the character described, a field in the form of awater covered area, a plurality of fioats located on said field,operable target de ices carried by said floats, means for actuating saiddevices in order to present a succession of targets simulating animaginary moving object, means for recording the time at which eachtarget is presented, a missile adapted to be directed from above saidfield towards said imaginary object and comprising separable sections,means for holding said sections together during flight of the missileand adapted to release said sections from each other when the missilestrikes the water, one of said sections being adapted to float and theother to sink upon separation, and time recording mechanism carried bythe floating section for recording the time at which the missile strikesthe water.

11. In a system of the character described, a field in the form of awater covered area, a plurality of floats located on said field,operable target devices carried by said floats, means for actuating saiddevices in order to present a succession of targets simulating;imaginary moving object, means for recording the time at which eachtarget is presented a missile adapted to be directed from above saidfield towards said in inary object and comprising separable sections,means for holding said sections together during flight of the missileand adapted to release said sections from each other when the missilestrikes the water, one of said sections being adapted to float and theother to sink upon separation, time recording mechanism carried by thefloating section for recording the time at which the missile strikes thewater, and means for anchoring the floating section in the vicinitywhere the missile strikes the water.

12. In a system of the character described. a field in the form or" awater covered area, a plurality of floats located on said field,operable tar devices carried by said fioats, means 101' actuating saiddevices in order to present a succession of targets sim ulating' animaginary moving object, means for recording the time at which eachtarget is presented, a missile adapted to be directed from above saidfield towards said imagi nary object and comprising separable sec tions,means for holding said sections together during flight of the missileand adapted to release said sections from each other when the missilestrikes the. water, one of said sections being adapted to float and tl eother to sink upon separation, time recording mechanism carried by thefloating section for recording the time at which the missile strikes thewater, means for anchoring the floatingsection in the vicinity where themissile strikes the water, and electrical means for controlling" theoperation of said time recording mechanism, said electrical means beingrendered inoperative upon separation of said section.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

ARTHUR W. PARSQNS,

LLAL

